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Monday, October 13, 2008

Oh, Crap....

- Anyone still excited about the Classic?

17 Comments:

Anonymous said...

I concur with el angelo's comments and the better then decent chance that Curlin's camp now without the key rival for HOY will skip on the BCC.

Instead they can race in the Japan Cup and get further props for doing something "for American racing" or score an easy win in the Clark Handicap.

The aversion to the pro-ride track hasn't gone away yet the impetus of having to race there is. Final entries are due tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

yes! Curlin rules.

Big Brown is lucky to be a survivor of the Dutrow Follies he has had to endure.

Alan Mann said...

If Glimmerglass and El Angelo are correct and Curlin skips town, then Casino Drive could be amongst the favorites! Oh man....

Wonder if Zenyatta's connections would then reconsider?

And c'mon Libby, didn't you want to see Curlin have the chance to prove his superiority once and for all?

Anonymous said...

I absolutely did want that showdown and I am telling you I would have had to take a valium to watch it. I am very disappointed.

I truly am glad Big Brown is OK. I always got the impression from Dutrow that BB's hoofs were not a big deal. Thank God BB does not have to pay anymore than being lame today.

SaratogaSpa said...

3rd quarter handle way down nationwide, keeneland handle down, VLT Big A mess continues, BB now Retired--don't you just love all this good news?

Superfecta said...

If Curlin bails, I'd love to see Zenyatta in. It could be an interesting group of pre-entries...

Since Big Brown would have likely finished well up the track behind the Euro contingent, I can't say I see his absence from the race as anything other than an opening for another big American name to step in.

Anonymous said...

Alan can you and your trainer consider entering Rap Tale for the Classic. She has a shot don't u think so.

Anonymous said...

If I was Jerry Moss I'd cross enter Zenyatta in the BCC - why not? You can still scratch later after racing on Friday. I'm sure there is a decent sized fee but so be it. It adds to the event's hype so the organizers should encourage it too.

While some folks in light of Eight Belles (or even Geo. Washington) might not have the stomach for it, I think the interest in the BCC could actually bump up a tad if you had a filly in there.

Like others I was looking forward to the BCC and I still want Curlin to race in there. However I'm a bit of a realist that Steve and Jess could see other opportunities without having to race at Oak Tree/Santa Anita.

As for folks scared off by BB (who I thought would actually do very well in the Classic) they likely will come out of the woodwork now. Frankly with the resume of Casino Drive makes him a candidate, then I'd say Finger Lakes-based G2 winner, NY Triple Crown champ, and 8 7-1-0 runner 'Tin Cup Chalice' should try too then.

Anonymous said...

Wow , I went to Keeneland the first weekend of the Autumn meet and it was wall to wall people. I am talking about on Saturday it took forever to move from A to B. Keeneland got all my handle for I had a handle on zip.

Anonymous said...

You know it just goes to show ya, in this life you have got to have talent and luck.

Anonymous said...

No one was being scared off by Big Brown.

Valerie Grash said...

Seriously, is anyone really surprised this happened? This horse has been living on a hoof and a prayer since the Derby. Lucky he lasted this long.

Oh, but the breeders will line up their mares for Kentucky Derby winner, even if he has bad feet. Good luck in the breeding shed, BB.

Anonymous said...

I would bet Curlin still goes in the Classic. Jackson is an intelligent guy, and for all the good he has done for the business, I think he can pay it back to them by running Curlin, and THEN going to Japan.

Think about this: a hot duel in the stretch between Curlin and Casino Drive in the Classic, and then possibly a rematch in the Japan Cup (either one)? THAT would take the sting out of losing BB.

So, to answer your question....hell yeah, I'm actually even more intrigued by this BC Classic than just the BB/Curlin duel in which both horses would have been bet-againsts. There's now a certain drama to the race, and it's the kind of drama that can give the handicap division a lift going into 2009. But I still believe Curlin goes in the Classic, then to Japan and finally to the breeding shed. Until the cynics prove me wrong, it's still the logical step to make for Curlin.

Anonymous said...

Alan, I did find the fee structure that Casino Drive's connections will have to pony up, as will every other BCC entry: $125k in total. $50k is due at noon Oct 14 (The "pre entry fee") with the other $75k due Oct 21st.

Source: LA Times

The cheapest starter fee goes with the new BC Marathon. It requires $5k as a "pre-entry" and an additional $7.5k on Oct 21st.

forego is my witness said...

The sexy factor of the Classic is definitely gone. But I'll still be bettin' and watchin'. Cuz I'm a handicappin' sucka.

If Curlin loses, it's because of the synthetic dirt. If he wins, well it's because he's soooo great. (I actually like him a lot, I don't mean to be TOO sarcastic.)

In a way, I'm glad Brownie can get away from Dutrow & co. and can now get down to bizness with the ladies. Happy he wasn't hurt badly. God bless ya, Brown.

Steve Zorn said...

Actually, why should anybody enter the classic, or any other race on the Pro-Ride surface? Five fatal breakdowns so far this fall (four in the morning). Just what we need on national TV. Oh, I forgot, on ESPN2, etc., there won't really be a national TV audience.

Anonymous said...

It might be an interesting Distaff with Zenyatta vs. Zaftig, don't you think? Can Jimmy pull off a Michael Dickinson?